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Deputy Salford Council leader John Merry said the town hall’s decision to borrow £25m was being taken in order to ensure the safety of residents.

“We will not allow the lack of immediate funding to become a barrier to undertaking further essential fire safety works on the Pendleton tower blocks,” he said.

“We are asking for a decision to provide temporary funding so that works can continue to replace the ACM cladding as quickly as possible.

“The city mayor has made clear that the safety of residents is of paramount importance. So we’re now taking the necessary steps to ensure works are undertaken.

“Everything is being done in the best interest of our residents.

“The regeneration work has been carried out under a Private Finance Initiative contract and whilst the council is not accepting liability for the works, we do believe that it is crucial that legal disputes do not prevent essential works being carried out.”

Salford has been particularly critical of the government’s handling of the fire safety crisis that emerged from the Grenfell blaze, slamming ministers for issuing contradictory and confusing advice in the days and weeks that followed.

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The government is currently carrying out its second round of testing on high-rise cladding, but in the meantime Salford says it is essential it removes the existing facades from nine Pendleton blocks that failed the first round.

City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “We are taking a lead in dealing with what is a national crisis. We have called on government, as a city council and through the work of the Greater Manchester High Rise Taskforce, to financially support councils and housing associations so that they can respond swiftly to legitimate public concerns.

“Residents’ must be able to feel safe in their home, whatever their tenure.

“This is not an easy time for local authorities – government cuts have taken a severe toll on council budgets.

“This will be a strain on our resources but it is important that we respond effectively to address safety issues raised by the Grenfell Tower tragedy and we must do all in our power to ensure that a fire such as this never happens again.

“We are now awaiting the results of independent tests before we move ahead with a permanent replacement to the cladding.

“At the same time, partners are quantifying total costs by putting together a complete programme of works.”

Salford is one of dozens of areas in which high-rises have failed tests since the Grenfell Tower fire, which claimed more than 80 lives (Image: PA)

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It is understood the borrowing is expected to cost at least £5m over the course of the loan.

Labour's shadow local government secretary Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, called on the government to stump up the cash, pointing out it had originally suggested the necessary help would be available.

"The government promised councils will be fully reimbursed for any building work carried out on tower blocks to ensure the safety of residents - it now needs to support local authorities like Salford who are working to ensure the safety of residents," he said.

"Why is it that Theresa May can quickly find money for the DUP to prop them up in a shoddy deal but can’t find the money to ensure that homes are safe?"

A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said: “We’ve been clear with councils and housing associations that we expect them to do whatever local fire services and experts say is necessary to make residential buildings safe.

“We will ensure that where local fire services have advised works are essential to ensure the fire safety of a building, current restrictions on the use of financial resources will not prevent them going ahead.”